Back on The Waka & Waewae Journey
Plastic inflatable boat journey through NZ restarts, for the third time this year!
The moody tones of Dire Straits' “Ride Across The River” boomed from Lennie's giant speaker. It was my request. I've listened to it a lot throughout this adventure, after it popped into my head as I walked over the Waikato River bridge at Flagstaff in March. Now, it was part of the soundtrack to my departure from Pukenui.
A gathering of friends and I marched down to the wharf on the Houhora Harbour. It was time to leave this place, this life behind. I wasn't leaving the people behind, though. This small group, plus many others, had become friends for life. Through shared-kai (food), hikes, drinks, movie nights, day trips to the metropolis of Kaitāia (make Kaitāia the capital! Anybody with me?) and a shared working experience on the orchard, we'd bonded. This experience like no other in my lifetime meant this wasn't goodbye. It was merely “see you later”!
I know they're great people, since the patience they gifted me that day was exemplary. Firstly, in just waiting for me to pack up and leave camp, but also once on the wharf they waited the entire 20+ minutes for me to prepare my craft for harbour travel (by that I mean “blow up the boat and tie my pack to it”). Exemplary patience.
The boat was ready, it was time. David Gray's “Sail Away” was now filling the air. I hugged everyone. It was time to go, I couldn't put it off any longer.
Together, my packraft and I flew down to the Houhora Heads on the outgoing tide. The sun was shining, a certain contrast with the winter weather I'd experienced there. I passed a group in kayaks, their speed indicated they were not on the same mission I am.
After a beautiful short paddle, I landed at the foot of Tohoraha/Mt Camel. The maunga (mountain) which guards the harbour entrance. Its shape had become synonymous with my stay in Pukenui. Visible from the camp and the orchard, it was like a symbol of home to me. I had nearly gone to climb it sooner, but thought “no, save it for the journey”. It was the right call. The sun lit up the water, making a very different place to the dreary, rainy town I thought I knew. Turquoise water lapped at the maunga's shores. White sand beaches seemed to stretch in every direction. This was surely paradise, a place of dreams.
But, so is everywhere in this land and it's time to get out there and rediscover that.
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